Hearts sent transfer advice over market they could look to raid as Derek McInnes lands 'phenomenal' tag

Hearts have a top class manager on their hands - and shopping in one particular market has been claimed as one way to edge towards title glory.

The club managed by Derek McInnes and backed by Tony Bloom’s investment sit top of the Premiership heading into November’s international break. Hearts are yet to taste defeat in the league and have already started their winter shopping through Kazakhstan international winger Islam Chesnokov, who has signed a pre-contract.

With the January window looming, Des Hutchison reckons a venture to England could see Hearts claim additional quality, with recruitment aided by Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics software. With a top figurehead like McInnes, the former Scotland international sees no reason why a sustained Hearts title bid

Where will Hearts shop in January?

Speaking to Sportscasting, Hutchison said: "They’re seven points clear. They’re playing good football. Derek McInnes is a very good manager. I see them as being firm favourites. I think the focus for them is to just get your head down. Keep churning out the wins. There's nothing too much to change.

“It’s not like they can go to Celtic or Rangers and try to poach any of their best players. That's probably not going to happen. So McInnes knows he's got a good squad of players to work with. Maybe he could look down in England potentially if he wants to sign one or two players. I just think Hearts now need to ignore all the noise, bat off all the questions, be very insular, stay together, get their head down, have your bonding sessions, stay tight and keep grinding out the results."

Hutchison has also been debating Scotland’s national team, ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark. A draw in Athens and victory at Hampden over the Danes would send the nation to America, Canada and Mexico next summer, with a key decision to be made on whether or not Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland starts up front. Hutchison reckons a first World Cup since 1998 is just the boost the nation needs.

Don Hutchison on Scotland’s World Cup chances

He added: “I think what Che Adams does, and he’s effective at what he does, but with all due respect, I think he’s a very hard worker, which is a good attribute to have. He’s very quick. But if you’re looking at finishers, Shankland’s a better finisher. He’s a better number nine. In my opinion, I would be tempted if I was Steve Clarke to start Shankland. The other option is you could play Che Adams from the start and ask him to try and run in behind and get momentum in the game, tire defenders out. For Shankland to come on, but I would just go the other way. I would start Shankland, playing from the start, get the goals early and try to kill the game as quickly as possible.

“Scottish football at the minute, it needs a lift. It needs a massive lift. I mean, Derek McInnes, the job that he’s doing at Hearts is just phenomenal. Celtic are doing really poorly this year, and I think that the anger comes from the fans to the board, not the fans to the manager.

“Obviously Brendan Rogers is gone, but it won’t really be directed to Martin O’ Neill either. Rangers have sacked their manager and now have got Danny Rohl, who will improve them. They need an upturn and lift, and that’s not just something like Celtic, Hearts or Rangers winning the league. It’s like the league needs to start finding better players. That league needs to improve the standards right across the board. And Steve Clarke getting Scotland to a World cup will definitely give the nation a lift, 100%.”